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Countries in Eastern Europe have issued their support for Ukraine, after new parliamentary speaker Oleksander Turchinov, an ally of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, was granted presidential powers:

Latvian Prime Minister announced his resignation over the collapse of a supermarket roof that killed 54 people last week."I am resigning from the post of prime minister, taking political responsibility for ... the tragedy," Valdis Dombrovskis told local journalists.

One of the first people to be pulled from the rubble of a collapsed supermarket in the Latvian capital of Riga spoke of his "lucky" escape as rescue workers continued excavation work at the site.

Aigars Benis, one of the first people to have been pulled out of the ruins of the Latvian supermarket. Credit: Reuters

Speaking to Reuters, Aigars Benis, had made a quick visit to the store on Thursday when the tragedy happened. He said: "There was a noise, I remember some piece of metal and I lost consciousness for a while.

"When I recovered consciousness, I saw sky and the windows of the building next to the store. It was raining. I realised that a disaster has happened. I was shocked, I thought I was having a nightmare...honestly speaking, I was lucky".

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People wounded after a supermarket collapsed in the Latvian capital of Riga have suffered "very serious injuries", the Emergency Medical Service told local news agency Diena.

Rescue specialists cut a hole on the side wall of the collapsed supermarket in Riga Credit: Reuters

Officials said 54 people have now been confirmed dead following the initial collapse of the supermarket roof on Friday.

NMPD leader Armand Plorinš added: "There is a broken backbone, which in itself is very serious. Various internal organ damage, even pierced lungs. Severe head injuries, the seriousness and potential consequences could not initially even be measured".